Sharing Best Practices "Hiring & Retaining Indigenous Talent"

"We cannot impose one belief system over another. If we do, it is at a great cost" Elder Dr. Reg Crowshoe opening remarks at the University of Calgary, "Sharing Best Practices: Hiring & Retaining Indigenous Talent" event.

Great morning with a student and an Industry Panel. Supporting my colleague Jamie as she represented Suncor on the Industry panel in sharing what our organization does in this space.

HERE'S WHAT'S INTERESTING THAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING!!!

James Gardiner, Head of West Canada Business Dvlp, for BMO was on the industry panel as well. And YES, he spoke about the elephant in the room, the Vancouver incident with Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter, and what BMO has done and is going to do going forward.

He did say BMO is focused on ensuring this never happens again to an Indigenous person....and the ways they are seeking in doing that, that it was a horrendous mistake, and what struck me was he said they are doing it by engaging the local FN, and their Indigenous advisory board to tell THEM what and how they should ensure appropriate training, awareness, and other initiatives are undertaken from the top of the house down.

After the panel, I had to go and meet him, and express that as an Indigenous person, what happens to one of us, happens to all of us, and I felt hurt, angry and very sad about the incident.

I asked exactly how they are going to ensure every bank teller, every branch manager, any BMO person dealing with the public will be aware to never treat Indigenous People the way that poor grandfather and his granddaughter were treated. His response was we are going to seek that knowledge from our Indigenous FN's and advisory council ..... and that was the perfect answer for me.

It only takes one person, one act of ignorance to destroy a company brand and reputation....but like Indigenous Peoples are not all the same, and don't act the same...so are company staff.

Sometimes things happen for a reason, and sometimes those lessons are hard. I have faith in BMO that they are seeking a resolution in a good way, in respectful way to rebuild their trust with us.

Hiy hiy!

#ReconciliACTION

Authentic Voices!